NOVEL NEXT Chapter 66
[No matter how you look at it, this is too much, everyone…]
[I’m so sorry.]
[W-We are the victims here?!]
[Isn’t it really us who are the true victims…?]
[But events like this are what make it fun! Akakatt!]
[I-I tried to stop it…]
[War typically inflicts the most damage on civilians. I was just trying to show that…]
“I-I didn’t know Aki would use that….”
– LOL
– If Natsune says it was severe, then it really was severe.
– Still, the nuclear explosion ending was intense…
– I didn’t know things like that existed in the gray city, LOL
We were all gathered together, getting scolded by Natsune.
To be exact, the five of us who had engaged in war: Me, Senior Kurokami, Senior Namikawa, Senior Yuzuki, and Aki, were being scolded.
What Aki had used earlier was the special weapon of the gray city, the ‘Nuclear Bomb.’
When used, it causes all players in the entire map to die and resets the server back to its initial state—literally the ultimate trolling weapon.
It was created for use when a single player had messed up so badly that they could never see the ending, but in multiplayer with numerous players, it was nothing more than a trolling weapon—nothing more, nothing less.
Typically, a nuclear bomb ban setting should be put in place at the start…
[Manager: No one had played in the gray city before, so we were unaware of such an option.]
[Manager: I’m really sorry.]
Due to this, Aki was able to use the nuclear bomb.
Upon hearing the story, I learned that she had used all the materials that Senior Yuzuki had gathered to create the bomb.
Well, a nuclear bomb requires an enormous amount of materials, so it should have been hard to create. It felt too early for it to appear.
…But I had been wondering since earlier when we had played in the gray city: how can people develop a nuclear bomb in a world that has been destroyed?
No matter how gamey it is, isn’t it excessive…?
[All my carefully built house took me 2 hours, and now it’s all gone….]
…[I’m sorry.]
At Natsune’s words, Aki also seemed to feel guilt and lowered her head as she apologized.
[I won’t say don’t fight in the future, but keep it reasonable….]
[Yes….]
[Understood.]
[I’m sorry.]
“I-I’ll behave….”
Thus, our little war came to an end.
– Is it really ending like this?
– If you’re a lawless one, you must be prepared to turn the world into enemies.
“Well, this might not be the complete end, but maybe it’s better for me to behave for a while…?”
No matter what, I didn’t feel like fighting right after being scolded.
And what does “be prepared to turn the world into enemies” even mean? What’s with Senior Kurokami?
“Huff, Haaah…”
– What was that just now?
– Mei-chan is a high school student, so nothing lewd allowed.
“I-I was just stretching….”
It’s not my fault—it’s your ears that are hearing it strangely. Reflect on that.
Also, my mental age is that of a man in his 40s, so lewd stuff isn’t an issue at all.
Well, anyway, it seems like it’s time to wrap up the broadcast.
I have to go to school tomorrow as well.
“So, I’m going to end things here for now and slowly head out. Let’s meet again next time….”
– Bye, Izumi!
– See you tomorrow!
– Bye, Izumi!
★
“Hmm.”
What should I do for today’s broadcast?
During lunch, I pondered this while eating my bento alone in the classroom.
Won’t it be embarrassing if people see me eating alone?
No way.
If I felt that embarrassed, I wouldn’t qualify as a true loner.
I’ve graduated from such feelings ages ago.
Anyway, the important thing is today’s broadcast.
If nothing special happens, I’ll probably end up playing in the gray city again, but what kind of playstyle should I adopt?
I’ve watched other members’ broadcasts here and there, but unfortunately, there was almost nothing I could reference.
After all, they don’t stutter like I do and have a professional background in broadcasting.
While I’ve just barely been adapting for half a year since starting, they have no issues regardless of the situation.
There are things I can learn, but the parts I can instantly reference are naturally few.
Well, the war began mostly because I got everyone involved.
Everyone probably had their own planned playstyle.
In other words, the only one with a problem right now is me.
“Just play normally….”
But even that feels quite daunting.
There’s the overwhelming pressure to fill in the audio gaps during the resource gathering phase at the start.
Even if I’ve been chatting consistently, it’s a completely different feeling starting off chatting with no gameplay than having to chat just because there’s an audio gap during a game.
This is what made me want to focus on PK initially…
“This is really tough….”
Do the Izutomo know how deeply I’m considering broadcasting like this?
No, they must not, because that’s why they’re teasing me so much.
Haa…
There are just way too many bullies…
★
During lunch in Class 1-A at Shiodome Private High School, a curious situation always unfolds.
And today was no different.
In the center of the classroom sat a solitary girl, enjoying her bento.
With furikake sprinkled over rice and a serving of octopus-shaped sausages with an omelet, it was just an ordinary lunch you’d see anywhere.
Yet, the reason the situation felt special was that nobody was around the girl.
Eating alone can be something that makes one feel exceedingly embarrassed, depending on the person.
Thus, most people usually find a spot where they won’t be seen or a place where eating alone wouldn’t seem strange.
However, she seemed completely unaffected as she gracefully savored the contents of her bento.
As if this were natural and familiar.
Her name was Kayanoh Mina.
According to Tateyama, she was the ice princess of Class 1-A.
…Of course, no one besides Tateyama called her that.
“Haa…”
Today, that peculiar routine faced its first crack.
For the first time, while she was quietly eating her lunch, she let out a sigh.
The first to catch this crack was Miyauchi, the classroom representative of Class 1-A.
After finishing a light meal at the store, she returned to the class and instinctively turned her gaze towards Kayanoh at the sound of her sigh.
What she saw was Kayanoh with her slightly furrowed brow, as if lost in distress.
“Just, normally… really, tough….”
The words that followed were barely audible as Kayanoh quietly muttered to herself.
However.
“Haa…”
With that ensuing sigh, Miyauchi understood everything.
Kayanoh, who simply wanted to live a normal school life, found it too awkward and difficult to approach others due to past wounds.
Yet, with her inherently kind nature, Kayanoh resented herself for still being hung up on her past wounds rather than the distance she kept from others.
What a heartbreaking reality this was.
“Kayanoh…”
Miyauchi bit her lip in sympathy.
But it was only for a moment.
She contemplated the fact that she was the representative of Class 1-A and stood up.
If Kayanoh truly wanted to enjoy a normal school life but recoiled from approaching others due to her past wounds,
Then someone needed to take the first step toward her.
If even that was too challenging, she had to create a solid opportunity herself.
With a sense of mission in her heart, Miyauchi rose from her seat.
Besides, the year’s end was approaching.
It was an exceedingly easy time to create such opportunities.
“Just wait, Kayanoh.”
I will definitely help you achieve the school life you desire.
With this resolution, Miyauchi began to make plans for Kayanoh.
Without doubting that this was the best she could do.
★
[【Gray City】 Today’s God of Death Mei-chan is taking a break #KainohIzumi#StarsFlow#GrayCity]
-─(≧▽≦)>ZumiZumi!
-─(≧▽≦)>ZumiZumi!
– So is a situation like yesterday not going to happen again?
-─(≧▽≦)>ZumiZumi!
“Hehe….”
I’ve finally found the answer.
If the problem lies in the initial resource-gathering phase, then I should just skip that phase entirely.
What a simple solution this is.
Thinking about it, just because I’m not playing in the gray city doesn’t mean others aren’t either, right?
In fact, after I went to bed, Akabane kept playing the gray city.
So I can finish gathering the initial resources before my broadcast begins.
Once again, I’m so smart. A total TS美少女 (total cute girl).
Initially, I thought about forming an alliance from the start, but I decided against it because the fun of survival games tends to lie in the combinations and stories created by the situations.
Given that Akabane and Utsumi were acting separately despite their combo with Ayakari, it seemed plausible.
“Well, well.”
Before I knew it, the time was almost 6:30.
[Natsune Nanase: Are you okay? If you’re struggling, let me know. I’m a senior, so I’ll do my best to help!]
Reading the DM from my emotional pillar, Natsune, I prepared to start my stream at 6:30.
“C-C-Come on, everyone! The mood maker of the group, I-Izumi here….”
I began the broadcast.
“Today is, um, following yesterday, we’re back in the gray city.”
– Oh, looks like home was prepared in advance.
– A smart choice when considering Mei-chan’s broadcast.
“…What’s wrong with my broadcast.”
Anyone who hears this would think I’m just a socially awkward loser terrified of the initial audio gaps, but I was just trying to be considerate, you know?
I wish my Izutomo would understand my feelings a bit more…
– So what are we doing today?
“Ah, today? Honestly, I was thinking of playing normally, but… my thought has changed.”
I genuinely intended to play normally today.
I had finished gathering all the initial resources and even built a home, so I was planning a broadcast that methodically conquers the content in the gray city.
But then, I changed my mind.
“Today, I’m going to realize my Blood Revenge…!”
Today, I’ll show off the brutal nature I’ve been suppressing for so long. I declared it confidently.
Today, I am not a quiet reaper, but the most ferocious ‘beast’.
I will make sure everyone knows that.